1104 results for author: Ashlee Schmidt

In the Word: God’s Mysterious Providence

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next few weeks, we will be meditating on themes of God's mercy. As we study these truths together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God's Word each week with us!  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,     so are my ways higher than your ways     and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9 READ: From the pits of grief and suffering, the human heart and soul can yearn to know the cause of ...

Sing Hannah’s Song Through Worship

“...And he worshiped the Lord there. Then Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart exults in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides You; there is no rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 1:28-2:2 What are we really asking in our pain and tears, when life doesn’t go the way we think it should or thought is would? “God, are You good?” “God, are You trustworthy?” “God, will I continue to surrender my life to You?” In Hannah’s song we see her response as a resounding, Yes! Her eyes lifted to the very ...

Emily’s Story

I found out I was pregnant in May of 2017. When I told my husband, we celebrated together, full of joy and excitement. Before we knew if we were having a boy or a girl, we were trying to pick our top names. I thought of Audrey, and instantly fell in love with the name. I knew that if we had a girl that would be her name. The meaning of Audrey is “noble strength.” We wanted to give our child a first name that had a strong meaning, and to me, Audrey was perfect. When I was 20 weeks, we were getting ready to find out the sex of the baby, and were both almost certain that the baby was going to be a boy. But she was a girl! Looking back now, this was ...

Sing Hannah’s Song Through Surrender

“And she said, ‘Oh my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to Him.’” 1 Samuel 1:26-27 When we cling to the promises of God, we can surrender. It’s easy to surrender when we are growing to trust the One we are surrendering to. This is the most profound and amazing part of Hannah’s story. And also often the most missed part. We often see that famous verse by Hannah, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition, which I asked of Him” on baby announcements and crosses on the ...

He Is Stronger Than My Sorrow

Each grieving mother carries her own unique fears, burdens, and heartaches; and while we all long for the strength to endure the grief and pain that have become a part of our stories, what we envision that strength to look like can be vastly different from one woman to the next. Some of us think that to be strong in grief means not to cry or display weakness. Others believe that strength means being able to keep the details of our lives together and maintain a sense of “normalcy” even when it feels like everything around us is crumbling to the ground. Still others would define strength in the midst of sorrow as the ability to shut off your ...

In the Word: The Storm of Grief

Welcome to Hope Mommies In the Word devotionals. Over the next few weeks, we will be meditating on Psalm 19 together. As we study these truths together, we’d love you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you dig into God's Word each week with us!  “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.” Psalm 19:13 READ: Sin and grief become entangled. Grief is a storm. Sin is a burden. And separating ...

Sing Hannah’s Song Through His Promises

“Then Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to Him.’ And she said, ‘Let your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” 1 Samuel 1:17-18 At first glance, it would seem that what made Hannah’s heart glad was that God was going to give her a son. But we must remember, this would be a child she would give right back to God. This would not be the longed for child to fill the aching mother void in her heart, but the child that she believed would be a servant to God all the days of her life—a child she would not see but perhaps ...

Our Forever Family

“How many children do you have?” “Is she your only girl?” “So, you have three kids then?” These are normal questions. Reasonable questions. These are standard questions that women are asked on a regular basis. But to the Hope Mom, these questions rip off the band-aid, exposing the wound that’s present, though not often visible. These questions remind us (not that we ever need reminding) that the picture people see of our family is incomplete. I am asked these questions frequently, and I could answer: “No, I have 4 children—2 boys and 2 girls. My second child is a girl. Her name is Kinley Peyton. She has dark hair that ...

Caitlin’s Story

Eleanor “Ellie” Love Kropchuk was the most beautiful surprise. In March 2017, my husband, Matthew, and I were so excited to find out she was on the way to join big brother Timothy (three years old) and big sister Caroline (20 months). Since I already have two children, pregnancy was nothing new for me. But Ellie was different. My doctor even commented at one point, as we laughed together about how active Ellie always was, that this pregnancy was just different than the others. Around seven months into my pregnancy, I created a playlist that I would listen to during my birthing time. God often uses music to minster to me in very unique and ...

Sing Hannah’s Song Through Lament

“As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, ‘How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.’ But Hannah answered, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.’” 1 Samuel 1:12-16, ESV Hannah didn’t stop pouring out her tears or ...